54 Year Legacy in the Laville Honors House

When Alceide “AJ” Bergeron IV walked through the doors of the Laville Honors House on move-in day, he wasn’t just entering his freshman year—he was joining a legacy of multiple generations of family members who walked through those same doors before him.

For Bergeron, however, the path to Louisiana State University wasn’t always set in stone. “I wanted to blaze my own trail,” Bergeron admitted,  wanting to carve out his own journey apart from his father, sister, and extended family members who had all attended LSU before him.

But after touring other universities, he realized that nothing compared to the feeling of home he experienced on LSU’s campus. “LSU does a great job of really making you feel like you are actually part of something,” he said.

That sense of belonging solidified his decision to live in the Laville Honors House, a living-learning community that has long been home to first-year students in the Ogden Honors College—including members of Bergeron’s own family. “My dad actually pointed out the window where his dorm was,” he recalled. “It’s incredible to know that 40 years ago, my dad, who has the same name as me, was walking out of the same building.”

Laville, known for its strong sense of community and academic focus, quickly became a perfect fit for Bergeron. “It’s been great because the same people I see in the hallways are the same people I have classes with,” he said. “We’re all focused on the same goals.”

Adjusting to college life wasn’t without its challenges, but Bergeron credits the Laville Honors House and its strong community for easing the transition. One of the biggest surprises? The friendships he built in unexpected places—whether it was through casual encounters in Laville’s ping pong room or a chance conversation in a snow cone line during a campus event.

Beyond Laville, Bergeron has fully embraced life at LSU, enjoying the proximity to the 459 Commons, French House, and Student Union, a luxury of the Honors Campus. “I hardly use my car because everything I need is within walking distance,” he said.

His family’s legacy in the Laville Honors House and deep connection to LSU began 54 years ago. He sits in the same part of the student section where his father once cheered on the Tigers. His aunt, who lived in Laville decades ago, was part of student protests to remove curfews for female students. “At least, that’s what the family fables say,” he joked. His sister also lived in Laville her first year.

As he reflects on his first year at LSU, he laughs at a title his father has playfully given him: “The Mayor of Laville.” While he may not fully accept the title, it’s clear that Bergeron has quickly become an integral part of the community, just like the generations before him.